Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-21


The brutal Treatment which hss been
aessrded William O'BEiea Al Toronto i
. diaRrsee to tie people Of that city.
he went there 81 the fpvifstion Of
laEEs nambeF II the citizens. These
citizens had . perfect right 10 invite
vhomsosseE they pleased 70 address
them, and the persOB Invited had . par
feet right to address bis fellow citizens
and 70 Be pTstecsed By the Law IL any
body shOaid attempt 10 prevent him
from 90 doing. A denial Of that propo-
sitiOn 10 . denial Of the right Of free
speech and an expression Of want Of
faith in government By the people.
Mr.. UBFien did not 90 10 Toronto TO
utter verbs Of treason, or 20 ineits any
portion Of the population TO deeds Of
violsues. He vent to tell the story Of
the rapaoity and cruelty Of the Mar
quia Of LansdsWne. He went 10 preach
the doctrine Of home rule foE Ireland
In pursuance Of the former object be
Eeoited only facts which do not admit Of
denial. Ia pursuance Of the latter be
uttered ssntimsnts in harmony With
those Of the vast majority Of the peO-
pie Of CaAada.
The stock argument Of these who are
opposed to granting justice to Ireland
Is that the Irish people are unfit for even
a reasonable dsgree Of self government,
that they are turbulent and aggressive,
and that only the exercise Of q strong
power can reduce them 70 3 reasonable
degree Of order. False as these asseF-
tons are, let "a admit them to be true
and then demand xhether the aFRu-
ments against self government in Ire
land would not apply with greater force
10 self government In Toronto.
The people Of Toronto are not labor
ing under q sense Of injustice and
wrong. They are net an oppressed and
prosecuted people. They are not pro-
testing against the enforcement Of laws
which they have had no share in max
ing, or suffering under hardshiVs.which
they believe 10 have been brought upon
them by the miseovernment of hated
ralers. On the contrary, they are in all
essentials q free people. The shadow
Of royalty which hovers ever them ID
bat Q shadow, and they enjoy all the
benefits Of free government. Yet they
display the utmost turbulence, trans
Rress the laws and attempt BY violence
10 hush the voice of one whose only
ofIense is that be pleads that BIZ
countTymen may enjoy the rights tina
are sioyed by all other English speak
ing peoples. II the Irish people ere IN
it for self government. surely II is folly
TO talk Of self government in connection
with the people Of Toronto. Those
people arc certainly least at for sell
government who will not accord ia
others the right Of free speech.
II is to be hoped that Mr.. O'Bfieu viii
continue on bis mission in Canada. /
Is TO be hoped that be will face al
enemies as he faced those at Toronto
Il lie TO be hoped that he will escape al
future murdeFous attacks az be has es
capped those of the present week
Clearly, he must rely for protection
upon the justice Of his cause and upOl
the strong arms of Canadians vhs be
lieve in free speech and a fair hearing
for sll. The inaotion and indifference,
OF the police at Toronto demonstrst,
that be can expect no protection from
the constituted authorities. Il ever
seems as il those in power at Oltawl
would be pleased IL he should fall I
victim 10 the nurderous fury Of mob